QUADRUPLET LAMBS
Three Instances on One Masterton Farm ALL TWELVE DOING WELL Dominion Special Service. Masterton, September 3. Mass production has been introduced into sheep farms in Masterton, three sets of quadruplets having been born on the station of Mr. L. T. Daniell during the present week, a happening which, according to experienced farmers, is distinctly unusual. The whole 12 lambs are surprisingly big, with no peculiarities and are in a thriving condition. The first set arrived on Sunday, the second on Tuesday and today, while a “Dominion” reporter was visiting Mr. Daniell’s station, the third set was born.
Mr. Danniell has tr flock of between 200 and 250, which was served by five stud Romney Marsh rams bred by Sir IV. Perry, “Penrose,” Masterton. Though he has been interested iu farming for many years, it was only two years ago that one of Mr. Daniell’s ewes gave birth'to quadruplets.
The three mothers are a five-year, a six-tooth and a two-tooth respectively. A remarkable feature is that the sixtooth had a lamb as a hogget in 1934, twins in 1935 and again in 1936 and quadruplets this year. The birth of triplets among sheep is quite a common happening. On Mr. Daniell’s station sets of triplets were born last year, and this year there have been three sets already to add to the quadruplets. A sheep has been known to produce a family of six at a time and a Wairarapa ewe again can claim this distinction. This particular ewe was bred by Mr. 11. W. Matthews on his Wairongomai station and sent to America, where its family was born. Generally only two lambs can remain with their mother, and it is necessary for the others to have foster-mothers found for them. The mother instinct is strong among the ewes on Mr. Daniell’s station, and when the 12 lambs were all mixed up together they were accurately sorted out by their parents, who would have nothing to do with the offspring of the others. To-day there have been a number of curious visitors to Mr. Daniell’s station to see the quadruplet lambs.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19370904.2.103
Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 291, 4 September 1937, Page 10
Word Count
352QUADRUPLET LAMBS Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 291, 4 September 1937, Page 10
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